CONVICTED (2018) | Claire Rayer, born 1 October 1985, most recently of Victor Mew Close, Wickford SS12 9HX – scalded an American bulldog with boiling water while he screamed in agony
Twisted Claire Rayer had pleaded not guilty, but was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to eight-year-old Snoops, whom she had been looking after for his owner, Matthew ‘Maf’ Luderman.
Witnesses described hearing Snoops’ howls of agony and horrific photographs of his injuries were shared widely on social media. A police investigation followed and mother-of-one Rayer was charged with animal cruelty.
Aside from being tortured with boiling water, poor Snoops had also been starved and then panic-fed before police arrived. He had no food in his bowel but was over-fed in his stomach.
Snoops was kept in a sterile vet unit for two weeks after the incident because of the severity of the burns. Happily he recovered, at least physically, and is now back living with his owner, Maf.
Sentence: 4 months and 2 weeks in prison. Banned from owning an animal for life.
Update April 2019
Rayer, a member of a drugs gang, was jailed for four years after admitting two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and two counts of permitting premises to be used for the supply of Class A drugs.